Canadian Perspective: University Activities in Nuclear Research

and Education

Jerry Hopwood, President, University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering

September 2019

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Outlinen UNENE Introduction

n Update on Canadian Nuclear Sector

n Canadian Nuclear Academic Initiatives

n Links between Canadian and UK Nuclear programs – research/E&T/academia

n Looking ahead

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UNENE: University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering;

• UNENE: Created as a Partnership • Main focus: Education and Research

• Formed in Canada in 2002 to address industry gaps in staff development, R&D coordination, and knowledge management

• UNENE is a partnership between industry, universities and government – founding objectives:§ Supply of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP)§ Support, fund and coordinate nuclear research in

universities to address industry needs§ Create a respected pool of university-based

expertise for independent industry and stakeholder consultation

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UNENE Today

• UNENE coordinates and funds academic courses, university Industrial Research Chairs (IRC’s) and individual Cooperative Research Projects (CRD’s)

• M.Eng and Diploma programs: tailored for part-time/distance education allowing the students to earn credits while continuing in employment;

• Based on academic programs, UNENE delivers training courses tailored to member needs

• IRC’s: Chairs lead investigations into key industry issues, and develop as independent authorities

• CRD’s: Build specialized knowledge and insight and “fill gaps” in fundamental knowledge and capability, while developing HQP for industry

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UNENE Members

• Canadian Nuclear Labs (CNL) (formerly AECL-CRL)

• Bruce Power• Ontario Power Generation (OPG)• Canadian Nuclear Safety

Commission(CNSC)• CANDU Owners Group (COG)• NWMO• Kinectrics• SNC-Lavalin-Nuclear (formerly

Candu Energy Inc)n

n McMaster Universityn Queen's Universityn University of Ontario Institute

of Technologyn University of Saskatchewann University of Toronton University of Waterloon University of Western Ontarion Ecole Polytechniquen University of New Brunswickn Royal Military Collegen University of Guelph n University of Windsorn University of Regina

Canadian Nuclear Sector Updaten The Canadian nuclear sector:

n active and progressing over a wide range of scopen Government(s) policy varies - always complex.

Federal Government quietly supportive of nuclear.n Important areas of activity:

n Fleet operation and life extensionn Decommissioning and remediationn Waste Management Solutionsn SMRs and vSMRsn International Linkages

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Canadian Nuclear Sector Update

n Important areas of activity

n Fleet life extension; q Darlington Mid-Life refurbishment progressing to planq Bruce Power units in operation to 2064q Utilities delivering medical isotopes in parallel with power production

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Canadian Nuclear Sector Update

n Important areas of activity

n Decommissioningq Active program of decommissioning and remediation for legacy

facilities at Chalk River and Whiteshell research sitesq Focus on R&D and innovation in preparing for power unit

decommissioning – prototypes first up

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Canadian Nuclear Sector Updaten Important areas of activity

n Waste Management Solutions --Nuclear Waste Management Organization progressing with volunteer site approach and with spent fuel container technology

n SMRs and vSMRs – very active Canadian programs on several fronts:n 2018 Pan-Canadian SMR Roadmap supported by governmentn Regulatory cooperation, e.g. recent MOU with USNRCn Demonstration build project(s) with Canadian Nuclear Labsn Utility studies of deployment

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Canadian Nuclear Sector Updaten Important areas of activity

n International Linkages – Canada active in promoting nuclear cooperation internationally, through government-to-government and institutional programs, bilaterally and through NEA and IAEA

n Canada-UK Cooperation: Government-to-government cooperation via NCA, with solid support from Canadian federal government

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Canada and UK Nuclear relationships --University and Related Sectors

Canadian and UK nuclear sectors have many common areas

n Evolving decommissioning and remediation scope – common history, touch points

n Strong and common interests in developing SMRs to real deployment

n Challenge of outreach from the technology practitioners to stakeholders, civil society, public

n History of government co-operation

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Canada and UK Nuclear relationships --University and Related Sectors

n Points of contact in the university space:n Education:

n UNENE represents collaborative delivery of courses via member universities – parallel with NTEC

n Research: n Topics of common interest, recent individual initiatives, n Directory of capabilities, programs, facilities

n Outreach: n UNENE and member universities are active in cooperation with

IAEA, OECD-NEA: NEST program initiative

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Current research activities: UNENE Industrial Research Chairs

RC Title Location Holder(s) Nuclear Materials Queen’s

University M. Daymond

Nuclear Safety/ Advanced Thermalhydraulics

McMaster University

J. Luxat/ D.Novog

Control Instrumentation and Electrical Systems

University of Western Ontario

J. Jiang

Corrosion Studies, Material Performance in Nuclear Systems

University of Toronto

R. Newman

Risk and Reliability based Life Cycle Management

University of Waterloo

M. Pandey

Radiation Physics and Environmental Safety

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

A. Waker / E.Waller

Radiation induced Corrosion Western University

C. Wren (IRC)

High Temperature Aqueous Solutions University of Guelph

P. Tremaine2019-10-29 13

Canada and UK Nuclear relationships --University and Related Sectors

n Other emerging areas of research:

n R&D Projects under way include….n Eddy current testing innovationsn Studying I&C effects in a full-scope micro-gridn Use of coupled drones for multi-parameter mappingn Study handling of molten-salt coolants in maintenancen Long-term corrosion in spent-fuel repository containersn Corium behaviour within reactor vesselsn Etc. etc.

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Canada and UK Nuclear relationships --University and Related Sectors

n Universities also involved in….

n Support to SMR design and developmentn – Moltex and ARC in New Brunswickn -- University studies supporting Terrestrial Energyn -- NEST Program of international fellowships pursuing SMR

researchn -- University participation in SMR demo planning at Chalk River

n Linking Social Science studies with nuclear technologyn -- Understanding community expectations for new facilities

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Canada and UK Nuclear relationships –Looking ahead

n Common topics for consideration in university sectorn Student exchange possibilitiesn Joint student projectsn Visiting lecturesn Bi-lateral participation in symposia and workshops

n Collaborative research projectsn Working together on outreach – providing informed viewpoint into the

energy debate

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Thank youn Questions welcome!

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Typical Coursesn Nuclear Reactor Physics [McMaster]n Nuclear Reactor Safety Design [McMaster]n Nuclear Reactor Heat Transport System Design [McMaster]n Nuclear Plant Systems and Operations [UOIT]n Nuclear Fuel Management of the Reactor Core [UOIT]n Control, Instrumentation and Electrical Systems in CANDU

based Power Plants [Western]n Nuclear Fuel Waste Management [Western]n Project Management for Nuclear Engineering [Western]n Engineering Risk and Reliability [Waterloo]n Introduction to Operational Health Physics [McMaster]n Nuclear Fuel Engineering [McMaster]n Power Plant Thermodynamics [McMaster]n Reactor Chemistry and Corrosion [McMaster]n Nuclear Materials [Queen’s]n Nuclear Regulation (McMaster)

Coming soon:Course on SMR’s and Advanced Reactor technology